Have you ever went to the gym feeling like you just had the best workout ever only to wake up in the morning only to find that you had muscles that you never knew existed in acute pain? The assignments in this class exercised every writing muscle in so many different ways.
Blogging was something I always associated with those really creative, perfect mom types of people. Probably because it is the overachievers that always have them, so you can imagine my dismay upon discovering I was not only going to have to write a blog, but also reply! I found it completely enjoyable. Blogging was one of the many highlights in the class. Not only did I enjoy writing in a relaxing setting, it gave me a chance to feel more comfortable about just throwing something out there and seeing what happens. I had a blast reading others blogs. Having to write responses allowed each of us to interact, I enjoyed getting the feedback as well as writing them. This was not a completely weak area for me, but I definitely needed the practice and appreciated relinquishing the misconception that only certain people could have a blog.
The group work that was assigned was incredibly challenging. I learned so much from my peers in this class. I was challenged by the diligence and expectation of those in my group. The PDR’s are a two edged sword. Not only did I have to read what others thought of my writing, but I was forced to use the tools that I had been learning in order to evaluate other essays. This put everything into practice; you know that muscle that was aching after the workout? Well, it did not have time to get flabby again because of this particular aspect of the class.
The discussion boards were very thought provoking. Some of the questions asked were difficult to answer. Sometimes trying to come up with a question to ask was harder than answering! This helped to view reading in a different light. I am not a critical thinker or reader in any way shape or form! I could no longer just read and take the information at face value, but to think deeper within and ask yourself, how this affects me, what would I do, or have done. How do I relate? These are incredible valuable lessons for me because in my previous reading I was reading at a very shallow level. Analytical thinking is not a skill I was in the practice of using…at all.
The essays were intense! I have never spent so much time delving into anything as deeply as I did when writing an essay for this class. I learned to analyze each and every word, and then every phrase, every sentence and paragraph. Analyze the author, their abilities and their qualifications. Just because they got published does not mean that they are qualified to sway anyone in one way or another.
Let’s face it, for some of us writing is painful. It takes forever to write anything good, and it is humbling. Just when you think you have figured the writing thing out, you find out that you still suck. I know that I have grown in my writing abilities in the last 16 weeks in each and every way mentioned above, but I know that I have more to learn than I thought. The most valuable lesson that I will take away from all of these exercises is that I will have to practice; I will have to take my time when writing. I will not wait and attempt to “pump” out a good essay in a couple of hours. Writing a good paper feels good; I feel that I am equipped with all the tools in order to accomplish that. I am now challenged to always do my best when writing, never take anything for granted and always ask “why”.
Thank your Jennifer for designing such an amazing learning experience or “workout” for us all. I will miss being pressed to excel and write. Have a fantastic summer everyone!